Date: August 28, 2012
Contact: Special Agent Paul Roach
Number: 720-895-4157
DEA Colorado Springs Resident Office Hits the Trifecta
AUG 28 (DENVER)  - Drug Enforcement Administration Agents and Task Force Officers (TFOs) of the Colorado Springs Resident Office, in conjunction with their federal, state and local partners, successfully concluded three separate investigations with the arrests of 14 suspects and the seizure of significant amounts of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana.
The first investigation targeted a drug trafficking organization in the Pikes Peak region that was distributing heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. The 10-month investigation expanded to seven other states and Mexico, and culminated with seven arrests and the seizure of 6.8 pounds of heroin, 9.75 pounds of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of cocaine, $152,755, and six vehicles.
That case led quickly to a separate spin-off investigation of a heroin trafficking cell operating in Colorado Springs and Pueblo. This second investigation concluded on August 16, 2012 with the arrests of two suspects after investigators intercepted a load vehicle traveling from California to Colorado. Four pounds of heroin and  pound of cocaine were seized from the vehicle. Officers seized an additional  pound of heroin and three vehicles during a subsequent search warrant at an apartment associated with the organization.
Finally, on August 14, 2012, law enforcement officers seized 600 pounds of marijuana, two vehicles, and arrested five suspects in a separate investigation of a marijuana distribution organization operating throughout Colorado.
The individuals listed below were arrested in connection with the three investigations:
Juan Ramon Espinoza-Aldana
Jacinto Ponce-Amparo
Matias Aleman-Sanchez
Miguel Angel Gamboa-Tasso
Enrique Cuevas-Del Toro
Zakariya Angel Salazar
Leo Rios-Lucero
Javier Francisco-Jimenez
Maria Isabel Mendoza-Palacios
Guadalupe Marguez-Chavez
Ernesto Mata-Rotas
Angel Eduard Nunez-Rivera
Mario Alberto Dominguez-Orozco
Cesar Sotelo-Lopez
These three investigations required much cooperation and coordinated enforcement action with several other agencies. The partnerships the DEA Colorado Springs Resident Office has formed continue to pay off with successful joint operations such as these. Agencies involved with these cases include the Colorado Springs Police Department, Pueblo Police Department, El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, FBI, HSI, Denver Police Department, and the Colorado State Patrol.